Kumar (2026) Analysis of changes in the hydrological response of the gangotri glacier, Garhwal Himalaya

Identification

• Journal: Elsevier eBooks
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-01-01
• Authors: Amit Kumar
• DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-443-36394-8.00005-4

Research Groups

Glaciology Group, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

Short Summary

This introductory chapter highlights the critical importance of hydrological studies of Himalayan glaciers, particularly the Gangotri Glacier, due to increasing freshwater demand and its role in hydropower, setting the context for analyzing its hydrological response.

Objective

• To study the hydrological response of the Gangotri Glacier, a major source of melt runoff for critical hydropower projects in the central Himalaya.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Gangotri Glacier basin, Central Himalaya, India.
• Temporal Scale: The provided text is an introduction; the specific temporal scale of the "present study" is not detailed. However, it references historical changes and data spanning from 1935 to 2023 for contextual information.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: The "present study" is stated to use "Hydrological Insights". Previous studies on the glacier mentioned "snowmelt-runoff model based on a temperature index approach" and "regression models".
• Data sources: Field observations, remote sensing, hydrometeorological records (air temperature, rainfall), advanced satellite data.

Main Results

• The provided text is an introductory chapter and does not present the main results of "the present study". It summarizes findings from previous research on Gangotri Glacier, including:
  • Approximately 97% of summer runoff attributed to meltwater.
  • Air temperature has a stronger influence on discharge than rainfall.
  • Glacier snout retreated by approximately 1.7 kilometers between 1935 and 2023, with recent slowdowns.
  • Continued mass loss and reduction in ice flow.
  • Glacier thickness decreased by about 9.4% from 2011 to 2020.
  • Expansion of debris-covered areas and rising firn-line altitudes.

Contributions

• The provided text is an introduction and does not explicitly state the original contributions of "the present study". It emphasizes the general importance of understanding glacier hydrology for water resource planning, hydroelectric power projects, and risk assessment in high-altitude environments.

Funding

• Not mentioned in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Kumar2026Analysis,
  author = {Kumar, Amit},
  title = {Analysis of changes in the hydrological response of the gangotri glacier, Garhwal Himalaya},
  journal = {Elsevier eBooks},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1016/b978-0-443-36394-8.00005-4},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-443-36394-8.00005-4}
}